Basement-stairway.



J. T. GOWLES.

BASEMENT STAIRWAY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1904.

Patented May 4, 1909,

2 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

THE uamus PETERS cm, WASMKNGYON u. c.

J. T. COWLES.

BASEMENT STAIRWAY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1904.

Patented May 4, 1909.

2 SHEBTS SHEET 2.

1H2 NOR UNITED s'rArEs JOHN T. GOWLES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

B ASE ME NT-STAIRWAY.

Specification of letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application filed July 22, 1904. Serial No. 217,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. CowLns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful BasementStairway, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to basement-stairways.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction of basementstairway which is simple and eflicient, and wherein the stairwayorladder is pivotally mounted so as to be swun up against the roof ofthe basement, su -basement or other locality when not required for use,and retained in such position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stairway of the classreferred to which is pivotally mounted and counterbalanced so as to beswung upwardly against the roof and out of the way when not required foruse, and retained in such position by detachable holding devices,whereby by releasing such devices the stairway or ladder may be loweredinto position for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swinging stairway orladder for use in basements, sub-basements or similar situa tions, withconnections between the same and a pivoted section or portion of thesidewalk or roof, whereby when the ladder is swung into position for usethe movable section or portion of the sidewalk or roof is automaticallyraised to permit access through the opening thereby produced to thestairway or ladder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swinging or movableladder or stairway of the character referred to and a handrail thereforwhich is automatically movable by the movements of the ladder orstairway into and out of position for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic stop orlock device for maintaining a swinging or movable section of stairway orladder in position for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ladder or stairway ofthe character re ferred to in such relation as to afford access to oregress from a building in case of fire or other accident.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafterset forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointedout in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views andreference signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in centrallongitudinal section of a pivoted swinging or movable stairway, showingthe application thereof to the roof or under surface of a sidewalksetting, the position of the parts when the ladder or stairway is foldedor swung into position out of use being shown in full lines, and theposition of the parts when the ladder or stairway is swung or moved intoposition for use being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view intransverse section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows. Fig. 3 is a similar view, on the line 33, Fig. 1, lookingin'the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a detached detail view, partsbroken off, showing a swinging arm for detachably supporting the ladderor stairway when the latter is swung into position out of use. Fig. 5 isa view in section on the line 55, Fig. 4, looking in the direction ofthe arrows. Fig. 6 is a broken detail view in transverse section of atread of the stair or ladder. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of a handrail.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

In accordance withthe principles of my invention, I propose to provide aswinging or movable stairway or ladder for use in basements,sub-basements or the like, or underneath sidewalks, for the purpose ofgaining access to, or permitting egress from, a building through anopening in the sidewalk or the roof of the basement or sub-basement inwhich the device is to be located, and I propose to pivotally mount theladder or stairway at a convenient point intermediate the ends thereof,whereby such ladder or stairway is partially, at least, or to anydesired extent, balanced or counterbalanred by its own weight. I proposeto provide the roof of the basement or sub-basement or the like, or thesidewalk, as the case may be, with a door or movable section, and toprovide suit able connections between such door or section and theladder or stairway, whereby when the latter is swung into position foruse the former will be raised to permit ingress to or egress from thebasement, sub-basement or other locality in which the apparatus isplaced, through the roof or sidewalk, and in order to facilitate suchingress or egress I propose to employ a hancl rail section and providesuitable connections therefor, whereby when the ladder or stairway isswung or moved into position for use the hand or guard rail section isalso moved into position to perform the function of a hand or guardrail, and I propose to provide such connections between the ladder orstairway and the movable section of guard or hand rail and also themovable section of sidewalk dooras will enable these parts to bereturned or restored to initial position, the former out of the way andthe latter in closing relation with respect to the opening in the roofof the basement, sub-basement or the like or in the sidewalk wheneverthe ladder or stairway is swung or moved into position out of the way.It is important to provide means for supporting the ladder or stairwayin position out of the way when not required for use, and I thereforepropose to so arrange the parts as that the ladder or stairway may beswung upwardly, if desired, against or in proximity to the roof of thebasement or under the surface of the sidewalk, and I provide readilydetachable retaining devices for the ladder when occupying thisposition. Where Iemploy a ladder or stairway which is pivotallysupported at a point intermediate the ends thereof to secure thebalancing or counterbalancing effect it is desirable to provide meanswhereby when the ladder or stairway is moved into position for use itwill be automatically locked and retained in such posi tion so as toavoid the possibility of the weight of a person, when imposed on theladder or stairway, operating to displace the same about the hinge oraxis upon which it is pivoted. In accordance with my invention',therefore, I propose to employ detachable' locking devices for lockingautomatically the stairway or ladder when swung or moved into positionfor-use.

' Many specifically different constructions and arrangements ofapparatus for accomlishing the objects and purposes above outined bedevised. While, therefore, I have shown and will now describe a construction embodying the principles set forth, I desire it to be understoodthat my invention is not to be limited or restricted to the details orspecific construction and arrangement of such devices.

In the drawings, reference sign A designates a sidewalk. setting, or theroof of a basement, sub-basement or the like. B designates hangers,suitably supported or secured to the under surface thereof.

C is a rod supported by the hangers B, and serving as a hinging axis fora ladder or stairwaysection D.

In practice I propose to hinge or pivot the stairway or-ladder section Du'pon rod C at a convenient point intermediate the ends of the ladder orstairway, thereby securing a more or less counterbalancing eifect,depending upon the position of the hinge or pivot rod with respect tothe length of the ladder or stairway section. T he ladder or stairwaymay be of any suitable or convenient con struction, including risers E,of any desired construction, and l propose to provide the ladder orstairway with a railing, indicated generally by reference sign F, toserve the purpose of a iand rail or guard.

By hinging or pivoting the ladder or stairway section as above describedI am enabled to rock or swing the same upwardly against the roof orunder side of the sidewall; when the ladder or stairway is not requiredfor use, whereby it is out-of the way and occupies comparatively smallspace.

In order to support and retain the ladder when swung upwardly and out ofthe way and against or underneath the roof or sidewalk, I provide theladder with a supporting which engages a swinging arm H, having a hookedend arranged to engage underneath the pin or stud The arm H is pivotallyhung or suspended from the roof or ceiling, as clearly shown in Fig. 1,the hooked end J being provided at the lower extremity thereof Q Anyconvenient means for detaching the hook supporting arm J from supportingor engaging relation with respect to the stud or pin G may be provided,whereby the ladder or stairway section may be detached from its supportor retaining device when it is desired to'lower the same for use. I haveshown a simple arrangement for accomplish ing this object, comprising ahand cord K, attached at one end to the ladder or stairway section at apoint above the hooked end J of supporting arin H, and led downwardlyfrom its point of connection'to the ladder underneath the pin or stud G,and around the extremity of'the hooked arm J, and depending verticallytherefrom. From this construction it will be seen that by pulling uponthe hand rope or cord K the retaining'arm H will be swung out ofengaging or supporting rela tion with respect to stud G, therebyreleasingthe ladder section or stairway and permitting I the same torock or swim 'downwar dl into v u D I l posltion for use. If necessary,1n case of a sufficiently balanced or counterbalanced stairway, aconnection will afford means not only for detaching the supporting armH, but it will also serve as a means for pullihg down the free end oftheladder or stairway section. If desired, and in order to reducefriction and to facilitate the detachment of the arm H, the free end ofthe hoolired portion J thereof may be provided with a roller L, overwhich the hand cord or ropeK is passed.

V-Vhen the ladder is lowered into position for use it is desirable thatthe opening in the pin or stud G, (see Figs. 1, 4 and 5) withroof orceiling of the basement or the like or the sidewalk be uncovered. Tothis end I provide such roof or sidewalk with a hinged or movablesection or door M, and in order that such door may be opened or closedautomatically by the swinging movements of the stairway or laddersection, I pivotally connect rods or bars N at one end to the undersurface of the door M, and at a convenient point therein, and I connectthe other end of such arm to the ladder or stairway section, the pointsof connection of said arm to the door and ladder being respectively onopposite sides of the hinging axis and pivot 01 the ladder or stairwaysection and in such relation that when the ladder or stairway section isrocked or swung upwardly against the roof or ceiling as indicated infull lines in Fig. 1, the door M will be automatically andsimultaneously closed, and when the ladder or stairway section is swunginto position for use the door M will be opened, as indi cated in dottedlines in Fig. 1.

In order to facilitate the passage of persons up and down the ladder orstairway section when the latter is in position for use I propose toemploy a hand rail section adapted to be moved automatically by themovements of the ladder or stairway into and out of position to form ahand or guard rail, according as the ladder or stairway section is inposition for use or is folded or swung upwardly against the roof orceiling. Many specifically different constructions of automaticallmovable hand rail sections may be emp oyed for this purpose. I haveshown a simple arrangement, comprising arc-shaped arms 0 P, connectedtogether, and one of said arms pivotally connected to the stairway orladder section. An arm Q is pivotally connected at one end to the roofor ceiling, preferably by means of a slotted connection and the otherend is connected to the arm P, which latter may form a continuation ofthe arm Q, if desired. By this construction it will be seen that whenthe ladder or stairway section is rocked or swung upwardly against theroof or ceiling the arm Q will adjust itself by means of the slottedconnection with the roof so that the hand rail section 0 P will beretracted into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and when theladder or stairway section is swung downwardly into position for use thehand rail sections O P are raised u )wardly through the opening in theroof ceiling or sidewalk into position to perform the function of a handor guard rail, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In order to lock the ladder or stairway in the position occupied therebywhen lowered for use so as to avoid the danger of the weight of a personimposed thereon rocking, over-balancing or swinging such ladder orstairway section I provide depending spring arms R on opposite sides ofthe ladder or stairway, such arms being secured to the roof or ceilingand depending therefrom, and I provide such spring arms with shouldersS. On adjacent sides of the stairway or ladder I provide coo )eratinglugs or projections '1, which as the ladder is rocked or swung into)osition for use snap over the shoulders or lugs S of spring arms It,thereby constitut ing a locking mechanism for locking and retaining theladder in position.

When the use of the ladder has been (0111- pleted and it is desired torock or swing the same back to its initial position against the underside of the roof or ceiling the spring arms It may be separated in anyconvenient manner to carry the shoulders S thereon out of engagingrelation with respect to the engaging shoulders T. This may beaccomplished in many specifically dill'erent ways. I have shown a simplearrangement, to which, however, my invention is not to be limited orrestricted, wherein a lever A is pivotally connected to a hanger B,depending from the ladder, and rods 0 are connected on opposite sides ofthe point of pivotal connection of lever A to hanger B and are arrangedwith the free ends thereof to project into proximity to the free ends ofspring arms R. By rocking lever A the rods C are projected lo11-gitudinally to engage the free ends of spring arms R, thereby moving thesame out of engaging relation with respect to the shoulders '1. Lever Amay be rocked in any convenient manner, as, for instance, by means of ahand cord or rope I), suitably connected to the lever A. If desired, aspring E may be connected between hanger B and lever A to normallymaintain the latter in position to withdraw the free ends of rods (1"from engaging relation respectively with the spring arms B.

By employing a ladder or stairway section embodying the constructionabove described underneath the ordinary glass setting of sidewalks ofbuildings, it will be apparent that I provide means for gaining accessto or egress from a building in time of fire or accident through thebasement, and which apparatus may be reached either from the basement orin case of emergency from the sidewalk by breaking the glass setting ofthe sidewalk and releasing the retaining devices which retain the ladderagainst the ceiling of the roof of the basement, and this I regard as amost important characteristic of my invention.

As above indicated, many variations and changes in the details ofconstruction and arrangen'ient would readily occur to persons skilled inthe art and still fall within the spirit and scope of :my invention. Ido not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exactdetails shown and described; but

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and aconstruction en1- bodying the principles thereof, what I claim as newand useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is:

1. The combination of a sidewalk or basenient roof, having a door-way oropening, a step section pivotally suspended from the under side of saidsidewall: or roof, a pivoted guard-rail, and connections between thestep section and guard-rail, said guard-rail being adapted to be movedabout its pivot and passed through the opening when the step section ismoved into position for use.

2. The combination of a sidewalk or basenient roof, having a door-way oropening, a pivotally suspended step section, a guardai mount d up a m val Pi P and connections between the step section and rail for moving thelatter about its pivot,

whereby the said rail will be passed through the opening when the stepsection is moved.

3. The combination with a sidewalk or basement roof, of bracketssuspended from the ceiling thereof, a ladder or stairway section hingedor pivoted to said brackets or hangers and provided with lugs orshoulders, spring arnis arranged to be engaged by said lugs or shouldersto lock said ladder in position for use, and means for detaching saidspring arms from engaging relation with respect to said shoulders torelease the ladder or stairway section.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of July1904, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JOHN T. COVYLES. l v' itnesses V FRANK T. BROWN, S. E. DARBY kin

